Escape hatch for submarines



April 28, 1931. H. E. GRlEsx-IABER Y 1,802,943

ESCAPE HATCH FOR SUBMARINES Filed May 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 2s,1931.

H. E. GRxEsHABER 1,802,943

ESCAPE HATCH FOR SUBMARINES Filed May 7, 1928 3 vSheets-Sheet 2 April28, 1931- H. E. GRn-:SHABER 1,802,943

ESCAPE HATCH FOR SUBMAHINES @y m, gw, @um zzjy Patented Apr. 28, 1931HUGQE. GRIESHABER, OF 'NEW LGNBON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG'NOR TKO ELECTRCBOAT COMEANY, OF GESTOR', CONNECTGUT, A CORFORTION OF NEN JERSEY ESCAPEHATCH FORl SUBMARINES Application led May 7,

This invention relates to submarine boats, and more particularly to anescape hatch structure therefor.

In the case of submarine boats which, due to collision or other cause,have been disabled and are unable to rise to the surface, it isdesirable to provide means whereby the men can escape. from the boatthrough an escape hatch without being subjected to pressure 1C. whileimmersed in the water for a longer period than is absolutely necessary.lt is known to provide escape hatches in submarine boats, these hatchesincluding a hatch Y trunk which extends downwardly a short dis- Vtanceinto the compartment of the boat from the upper portion of the hull. Inusing these hatches the compartment is flooded until the water reachesthe lower or inner end of the hatch trunk and elfects a seal therewith.9,0 Under such conditions the men in the com partment are immersed inthe water except for the upper port-ion of their bodies or their heads.Y

This is not usually seriously objectionable 2.5 as the men can quicklyescape from the compartment and are not subjected to high pressure inthe water for an injuriously long period of time. In cases where theinjured boat is at such a depth that the crew can not safely escapethrough the hatch without the use of diving suits or other apparatus andit is necessary for the men to remain in the compartment for some timeafter flooding thereof, this is objectionable. It has been found that aman can remain in compartment filled with compressed air withoutsuffering any ill effects therefrom for a much longer time than he canremain im mersed in water under equal pressure. The .i water, at depthsof 100 feet or more, such as that in which submarine boats operate, hasa relatively low temperature. As a result, when the men in the'compartment of the submarine boat are immersed in this water underpressure they are quickly chilled and their vitality is'materiallylowered. ln consequence, the prospectsof a reaching the surface safelyafter being immersed in this water under pressure for an appreciabletime e are materially less than if the man were sur- 1928. Serial No.275,730.

rounded by compressed air, and not immersed in the water. lt alsoappears that the water, regardless of its relatively low temperature,has an effect on men immersed therein under pressure which tends toquickly weaken the inen'and reduce their vitality.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide simple andefficient means whereby the men in the compartment of a disabledsubmarine boat are enabled to remain in l such compartment without beingimmersed in water after the escape hatch has been opened.

More specifically, my invention comprises an extensible hatch inconjunction with a well disposed to receive the lower end of the hatchwhen extended, this well being .disposed below the compartment wherebythe. water does not rise into the compartment when the well isflooded,the men when escaping` entering this well and passing therefrom into thehatch trunk With the hatch fully extended the men have a dry deck wherethey can put on diving suits, and do not have to enter the water untilafter the diving suit has been completely applied and properly secured,and the man is ready to pass through the hatch trunkto be transferred tothe rescue ship. Further objects and advantages o-f my invention willappear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view through a hatch structure constructed inaccordance with my invention, the upper portion of the hull and thesuperstructure of the submarine boat being shown fragmentarily, partsbeing shown in elevation Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view througha submarine boat of conventional type showing a hatch structureconstructed in accordance with my invention as applied and extended;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through Figure G is a view similarto Figure but showing the hatch structure extended.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, l provide a hatch structurewhich includes a trunk having a main section 1 which is ixedly securedto hull 2 of a subma ine boat B. This section 1 is provided at its upperend with a reduced neck 3 defining a hatch opening which is closed by ascuttle or cover l hinged at 5 on trunk section 1. rl`he cover 4 isprovided with arms 6 extending therefrom, these arms extending beyondthe pintle 5 and being provided with slots 7a which receive a pin 7.rlhis pin passes through an eye 8 at the upper end ot an operating rod 9slidably mounted through a stuiiing box 10 secured through hull 2. Therod 9 is also slidable through a guide collar 11 of a suitable bracketsecured to the inner i'ace of hull 2, and is provided at its lower orinner end with a suitable head forming a handle 13, the rod being ot ashape. The scuttie or cover l is secured closed by a screw 14: securedthereto d passing through a scuttle bar 15 which engages beneath lugs 16extending fron trunk section l, a hand nut 17 being threaded onto thescrew lll and bearing against the bar. By loosening nut 17 and turningbar 15 from beneath the lugs 16, the scuttle is released so as to beopened. ln this connection, it is to be noted that th scuttle l can beopened and closed independently of bar 9 which normally remains in itsraised r inoperative position.

To insure proper engagement of eye 8 with pin 7, suitable means isprovided for holding the rod 9 against turning movement. Such means maybe of any suitable or preferred construction. ln Figure 3 l haveillustrated the rod 9 as operating through stuffing box 10 whichincludes al packing gland 18 extending through an opening in the top ofhull 2. Suitable nuts 19 and 20 are screwed onto this `gland and gaskets21 and 22 are conlined between the nuts 19 and 20, respectively, and thehull 2, these nuts being turned tightly into position to secure thepacking gland and to form a luidvtight closure between the same and thehull.

Rod 9 also operates through a collar 23a of a bracket 23 suitablysecured to hatch trunk 1.

A pin 24a is secured in collar 23a. This pin projects into a groove 24formed in rod 9 and enrending longitudinally thereof, and

-" holds the rod against turning movement.

The bore of the packing gland 18 is enlarged at its inner portion toreceive a packing 25, in a known-manner, and a packing int 26 litssnugly about rod 9 and screws into tie packing gland compressing thepacking about the rod 9 so as to provide Va. fluid tight closure aboutthe saine. TWhen the o release the scuttle or cover 4, this cover haythen be opened from within the comparement of the submarine boat bypulling downwardly on rod 9 thus swinging the cover d into open positionthrough engagement oi' eye 8 with the rod or pin 7.

rIhe scuttle section 1 has associated therewith an outer telescopingsection 27 and an inner telescoping section 28. Section 27 is providedat its upper end with an outer annular member 29 secured thereto andproviding, in eect, a flange of a width corresponding to the spacebetween the section 27 and section 1, when the section 27 is in itsraised or inoperative position. fr rubber gasket 30 is secured to theunderface of 29 and cooperates with a bead 31 extending from the upperJface oi' a flange 32 extending inwardly from the lower end of trunksection 1, to form therewith asubstantially fluid tight closure whentrunk section 27 is in its lowered oreX- tended position. The innersection 28 is pro- 7ided with a similar lange member 33 and associatedgasket 3111 at its upper end, and the trunk section 27 is provided, atits lower end, with an annular member secured thereto and extendinginwardly therefrom. The members 33 and 35 correspondin width to thespace between the sections 27 and 28, and member 35 is provided, on itsupper face, with a rib 36 which cooperates with gasket 34 to form asubstantially fluid tight closure whe the section 28 is in its fulllowered or extended position. The two sections 27 and 28 of the trunkstructure, which telescope into each other and into the main fixedsection 1, are thus held again any undesirable looseness or play and areeectively guided during extension or collapsing or folding ot the trunkstructure, the means for guiding these sections also serving to Jformfluid tight closures between the same.

When the trunk structure is in its normal non-extended or collapsedcondition, the sections 27 and 28 are disposed within the main linedsection 1. A lower door or scuttle 37 closes the lower end of section 1,this door 37 being hingedly mounted and normally secured closed bysuitable dogs, in a known manner. ln practice, the up )er hatch cover orscuttle l is also normally secured in closed position. IThe dogs forsecuring the scuttle 37 are, of course, disposed exteriorly of the hatchtrunk and may be mounted thereon.

The hatch sections 27 and 23 may be of light construction and may beheld raised by a pin or latch, or equivalent means, at the lower end oftrunk 1, when the hatch covers 311 and 37 are open, as when the boat ison the surface. Any suitable means may be used tohold the hatch sectionsraised, and it is n-ot thought necessary to illustrate any specilicmeans. ith sections 27 and 28, the trunk 1 and associated parts providean access hatch of conventional type. As clearly illustrated in Figure2, the lower end of trunk 1 is adjacent the top ot' compartment Cproviding ample head room for passage` ofithe personnel of the boatthrough thiscompart-` structed'and arranged in this manner,normallyprovide an--access hatch available forl use at any time, and donot occupy valuable space which could be used for-other purposes,-whichy is of primary importance.

In the event that -the submarine boat is disabled by collision orotherwise, and is unable to rise to the surface, the crew is assembledin a compartment provided with a telescoping hatch structure inaccordance with Y my invention. The lower hatch cover 37 is thenreleased and opened, and the hatch trunk is extended as in Figure 2.With the trunk in extendedcondition, the lower end of section 28 thereofextends into the upper end of a well 38 provided in hull 2 of the boatwhich is ofA conventional.construction and includes the superstructureS.

After this has been done, compressed air is admitted to the compartmentC either from a supply carried on board the submarine boat or from asalvage vessel, until the pressure inside of the compartment is equal toor slightly greater than the pressure of the water at the depth of thesubmarine. The outer hatch cover 4 is then opened by means of the rod 9in the manner described, it being understood that hatch bar l5 isreleased and turned into inoperative position before extension of thehatch trunk. Upon opening of the cover 4, the well 38 is flooded withwater, this water sealing the lower end of the extensible hatch trunk,the water level being indicated at X. The men within the compartment Cstand upon the walking flat 39 of this compartment and are not immersedin the water. The extensible hatch trunk thus provides means whereby acomparatively great volume of air is trapped in compartment C for thebenefit of the men in such compartment and awaiting rescue.l

In the event the depth at which the boat is submerged is too great forthe men to safely attempt reaching the surface by passing upwardlythrough the hatch trunk and without the provision of a diving suit, adiver from a rescue ship at the surface enters the compartment C throughthe extended hatch trunk. This diver carries with him an additionaldiving suit and hose, this additional suit being put on by one of themen to be rescued who then enters the well 38 and passes into the hatchtrunk, being raised to the surface in the usual manner. This operationis repeated until all of the men in the compartment have been rescued.In the event that the depth at which the boat is submerged is such thatthe men can safely attempt to reach the surface without the use of adiving suit or other apparatus, the men successively enters the well 38and pass upwardly through the extended hatch trunk,

f swimming to thel surface :.vvhere` theyarersw cued. ment. The trunkand associated parts,l con- In either case, the men-withinthecompartment' C awaiting-rescue are not immersed in the water, andconsequently, do nothave their' `vitality reduced thereby, thus veryvmaterial-..6

ly increasing the possibility ofnrescueV of?v such'men.l

The compartment C 'is also Vprovided .with web frames adjacentvtheyinner endlof trunk section =1 these .web frames forming air Al locksin a known man-nerA in thev event that the trunk-cannot be extended;lInfsuch case, the cape of the-men, asfat'present.A In the event escapetrunk can beutilized for the es-.l-

the boat-is notlying onl an even-keel, the

hatch trunk can be extended until theloweror inner endv thereof-formsaseal'with the` water in the compartment C, thusreducing-y as far aspossible the extent to which the-men are immersed in theiwaterand,consequently,

conserving the vitali-ty of-v the men to this extent; YUnder mostconditions,however, the`v boat will be on aneven-v.keel'.so-thatthe-exf. tensible hatch trunk'vcan `be-used 1in`full ext tendedposition asillustratedinFigure 2 and:

the full benefits of thisftrunk and the Well .1

cooperatingtherewith mayl bev-had.

Preferably; each of the hatchy covers 4 and- 37 has associated therewitha counterbalancingspring 88? which acts, in a-knownm-anner tocounterbalance the-cover.- Y

In the. modified vform illustrated in Figsg 5 and6,'I have show nasingle sectionortube and means for securing the same to thehatch trunk,V,but it will be-understood that two or' more-sectionsmayibefused andsuch sections may be y.secured togetherwin theisameumannersas `the -topVsection. `is' secured to the trunk.`

Ananglering 41 is secured to the upper end of hatch trunk'40 and hassecured thereto ani angle `ring 42 upon which-is mounted la 'scu-ttlev Y43 which is opened andclosedin theqjsamemanner as scuttle or cover 4 ofFig. l. Scut- 47 is .secured on th'e lower endof hatch trunk;

and has secured ,ftheretoua fiat' ring 548 having a depending annularflange 49 iprof viding. aseat forA a. lower-.cover or :scuttle 50hingedlymounted: on ring :48 r`and secured closedbysuitable dogs 51.1:

A tubular-member or trunk'. section l52 -tsv within trunk;40.This-member vis provided,- at-one.end,.withan outer. flange 53 which issecured, by. means ofV suitably .spacedicap screws 54 torings-48,`flange 53being-of proper diameter to fit within flange 49bfthe ring. -Y By-removingcap screws 54 section. 52 can be withdrawnfromltrunk 4 fand :then lsecured to f the ring 48 in inverted position,by means of the cap screws, so as to form an extension of l the trunk asin Fig. 6. rIhis is particularly useful. in permitting escape of thecrew through the hatch in shallow water as, under such conditions, themen can quickly pass through the escape hatch and are not subjected topressure, when immersed in water, for an appreciable period of time.

I also contemplate providing two or more extension sections or memberswhich may be secured together in the same manner as niember 52 issecured to trunk 40, the lower portion of such structure, when extended,being disposed within the well 38 of the boat, as in Fig. 2. Myinvention also comprehends a scuttle trunk and an extension membertherefor of such length that thelower end of the extension member, whenin operative position, will extend into. the well of the boat.

As above indicated, and as will be understood by those skilled in theart, 'changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my inventionmay be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of thesame, and Iintend to include all such variations, as fall withinthescope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferredforms only of myinvention are disclosed.

I claim:

l. In a submarine boat, an extensible escape hatch trunk openingthroughthe top of the hull of the boat, and a well in the hull disposed toreceive the lower end of the trunk when said trunk is extended.

2. lIn a submarine boat, a hatch trunk open at its outer end anddefining a hatchway, said trunk being extensible downwardly into thehull of the boat, a well within the hull and disposed to receive thelower end of the trunk when extended, a hatch cover for clos ing saidhatchway, and means operable interiorly .of the hull for opening saidhatch cover. -Y

3. In a submarine boat, an access hatch trunk fixed tothe hull,aremovable cover for the outer end of the trunk, a removable cover forthe. inner end of the trunk, and a tubular section telescoping the trunkand lmovable into and out of the same through the lower end thereof,said section when in its normal inoperative position being disposedentirely within thetrunk between the covers thereof.

l. In a submarine boat, an access hatch trunk, a cover for the outer endof the trunk and opening outboard, a cover for the inner end ofthetrunlrand opening inboard, and a tubular section telescopin'g into Vthetrunk and movable through the inner end thereofl into the hull, saidsection when raised being. disposed within the trunk and between thecovers'thereof.

5. In a submarine boat, an access hatch trunk, a cover for the outer endof the trunk and opening outboard, a cover for the inner end of thetrunk and opening inboard, a tubular section telescoping into the trunkand movable through the inner end thereof into the hull, said sectionwhen raised being disposed within the trunk and between the co-versthereof, and means for supporting said section from the trunk when thesection is extended into the hull.

AA6. In a submarine boat, an access hatch trunk opening directly into amain compartment of the hull, a removable cover for the outer end of thetrunk, a removable cover for the inner end of the trunk, and a tubularsection telescoping the trunk and movable through the inner end thereof,said section when raised being disposed within the trunk and between thecovers thereof.

In witness whereof, Ihereunto subscribe my name this 3d day of May,1928.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER.

